Frank Lewis & Marie Hardy

Franklin C. Lewis was one of Birda's older brothers.

He married Flossie Marie Hardy (of Vernal, UT) on 1 Jan 1914- at 28 years old he was nearly 10 years her senior.

Thus she became Flossie Marie Hardy Lewis.

Marie and Frank
Cropped and photoshopped together by me
Marie's image: from the personal albums of Jalair Hoff
Frank's image: from the personal albums of Patty Stewart

Marriage license notice:

SOURCE: Vernal Express 1914, Jan 2, p.2

Marriage License:

SOURCE: familysearch.org

Photo of their wedding party, with labels below
From the personal albums of Jalair Hoff

Unfortunately, their marriage ended in divorce just a few years later.

The following is an excerpt from the personal history of Flossie Marie Hardy, found in the personal albums of Jalair Hoff, regarding their marriage and divorce:

"... She married Frank Lewis 1 Jan 1914 when she was only 18 years of age, and they lived in a little house quite close to his mother.  She was a dear old soul, and Marie loved her very much.  They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple 3 Jun 1915.  Frank and Marie lived together two and a half years before their daughter, Frances, was born 18 May 1916.  Marie was 21 at the time.

When Frances was still quite young (3 or 4), Marie left Frank Lewis.  She said, "I left him because he was abusive with Frances.  He couldn't seem to understand that she was a small girl, and he went out with another woman when I was playing the piano at the movie shows."  When Marie left Frank, she went to her sister, Ruby's house, and stayed with her for a long time.  When the flu epidemic hit in 1918 she went from house to house nursing sick people.  Her mother took care of Frances during that year.  Frank and Marie were divorced 21 Jun 1919..."

Court subpoena:

Found in the personal albums of Dallas Workman

I waded through about 10 pages of court documents regarding their divorce, and it appears Marie accused Frank neglect, cruelty, and essentially kicking her out of the house saying he "would have kicked her out long ago if it wasn't for the baby".  Frank was given visitation rights with their daughter, Frances, and was ordered to pay child support to some degree.  BUT, descending versions of this story from both sides of the fence also indicate that Frank was fairly religious and Marie willingly played the piano in movie houses/bars/night clubs/etc and wasn't as keen to follow his pious example.  This factor may explain a lot of their early marital strife and separation.  Regardless, Frank went on to marry Frances Paxman in 1924, and Marie went on to marry Ed Taft in 1922 (later divorced), and Sam Porter in 1934.

"Frank Lewis and daughter Frances"
Additional labels below
From the personal albums of Jalair Hoff